British disabled people fight against Atos oppression

This video from Britain says about itself:

Policeman Defects turns on ATOS over Disability Cuts, UK Uncut Action 1/3

3 Jan 2013

Ever since George Osborne announced he was slashing £18 billion from the welfare budget, the government has paid Atos £100 million a year to test 11,000 sick and disabled people every week, then decide whether they’re ‘fit for work’.

Atos uses an inhumane computer programme to do the testing, and trains its staff to push people off benefits. The government has admitted the tests are flawed, and the British Medical Association has demanded they end immediately.

But Atos continues to devastate people’s lives. Many have committed suicide because of its testing programme, and over 1,000 people have died of their illnesses soon after being found ‘fit for work’.

By Peter Lazenby in Britain:

Campaigners gear up for mass rallies against Atos

Wednesday 19th February 2014

Thousands of disabled people have been ordered back to work by privateer Atos, regardless of their disabilities

Trade unionists, anti-cuts campaigners and disabled people are joining forces today to stage nationwide protests against government attacks on disabled people.

Thousands of disabled people have been ordered back to work by privateer Atos, regardless of their disabilities, and had their disability benefit payments stopped.

Campaigners claim some have been driven to suicide through losing their benefits.

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said 10,600 people died within six weeks of being declared “fit for work” by Atos.

“This alone should have set alarm bells ringing that the assessments were not fit for purpose,” he said.

“We are calling on the government to stop this degrading policy and introduce a fairer transparent system that restores dignity to the sick and disabled.”

Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being handed to Atos to carry out the “work-capability assessments” dreamt up by Tory Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.

Mr Duncan Smith has admitted he is considering swapping Atos for another private provider but public service union PCS has called for tests to be brought back in house.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: “It is a scandal that the likes of Atos are profiting from this government’s cold and calculating assault on sick and disabled people.

“The demeaning tests should be scrapped and the work to provide the kind of professional and caring support that disabled people need and deserve should be brought back in-house.”